Cooling and embalming table



(No Model.) Y

' T. E. DEMOTTE.

COOLING AND BMBALMING TABLE.

. Patented Jan. 20, 1885.

WMM. l @JKM/wh? y N. PETERS. Pnalrrlimngnphnr. wnahingxan. Df C.

ilrrrrnn raras Parham? @trice THOMAS II. DE ll/IOTTE, OF EUREKA, ILLINOIS.

COOLING AND EMBALMING TABLE.

SPECIIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,884, dated January 20, 1885.

Application filed July 16,112,184.` (No model.)

a/ZZ whom it' may concer/1,:

Be it known that I, Trroniis H. Dn Mo'rfrn, of Eureka, in the county of Voodford, in the State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Cooling and Einbahning Table; and I do here by declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a' part ot' this specification, in which like letters of reference refer to like parts, and in which- Figure l represents a perspective view thereol', Fig. 2, a longitudinal section; Fig. 3, side View ofthe table folded up; Figs. 4t, 5, and 6, detail views.

This invention is in the line of cooling and enibalniing tables upon which corpses are p rcpared for burial; and the improvements which I seek to effect are, iirst, to adapt such atable to be folded into the most compact forni for easy carrying; to make the same vertically and angularly adjustable; and, lastly, to the construction of a head and neck rest capable of being suitably regulated.

yMy means for accomplishing the iirst of these desired results consist ot' two frames hinged together and provided with legs pivotally secured t-hereto, and adapted to be fastcned at any desired point-of angular adjustnient, which also effects the second feature ot construction.

Iii-the drawings, A A represent the two frames pivoted or hinged together at I). Each of these sections AA consists ot' side bars, a, end bars, a2, and cross-bars a.

At the head of the framesection Ais a broad board, B, having a slot, Z1, therein, for the purpose hereinafter described.

As a top for my table I employ a stout canvas or similar thin pourons sheet, the edges of which are tacked to the upper sides of the bars a ai and to the board B.

To permit the frames A A to be folded about the hinges I), which are at the lower corners of the bars a a', it is necessary to have a loose flap or fold, c, in the canvas c over the joint of the two frames A A, as shown in Figs. l and 2, This flap c is just long enough to reach about the cross-bars a when the frames A A are folded together, as in Fig. 8.

The advantages which I derive from the use of this canvas top c for the table are lightness,

ease, and thoroughness of fu inigation, ineXp ensiveness of removal and substitution therefor of a new sheet, and the non-hinderance which such a thin material gives to the suitable cool` ing ofthe contiguous portions of the superimposed body.

To the side bars, a, by means of bolts and set-nuts O O', are pivoted the upper ends ofthe legs L, each pair of which is suitably coupled together by a cross-bar, Z. Radially-corrugated disks M N, inserted between each leg L and the adjacent part of its bar a, enable the grip of the set-nut O' to bind the said legs rigidly in any desired angular position. To prevent said disks N from turning on the seats therefor in the side bars, a, each of said disks is provided with earsa, adapted to project radially into the material, surrounding the saine, ofthe bar c. The other disk, M, is provided with ears m, projecting at right angles to its face, and adapted to enter notches m in the sides of the leg L thereat. (See Fig. et.) By this device said disk is rigidly held with the leg and the latter prevented from splitting.

It is desirable usually to have the coolingtable somewhat lower at its foot than at the head thereof. I therefore make lthe legs L at the foot shorter than the others, as in Fig. l.

When it is wished to lower one or both ends ot" the'table considerably, I prefer not to. trust the pivots O, but have the end bars, ai, rest directly upon the side of the legs L, as in Fig. 2.

My device for rendering the headrest- H adjustable vertically consists of the post E, supporting said rest, the block I), in an opening through which said post is movable, a notched bar, F, repressible within a longitudinal groove, F, in said post, and a plate, f, on said block, the edge of which is adapted toA engage with the teeth of said notched bar and hold the post E, and thereby the headrest, at any desired point of vertical adjustment. The edges d ot' the block D are rabbeted, and Correspondingly-rabbeted strips d are fastened to thev under side ofthe board B. Thepost E projecting through the slot b, and the block D being adapted to slide in the strips cl parallel to said slot, the head-rest H is thus made capable of adjustment in the direction of the length of the table. This ad- IOC yIO

justlnent is rendered necessary or desirable I laterally over said frames tightly, but having when the corpse placed upon the table is shorter or longer than the usual size.

The vertical adjustment of the headrest adapts the same to deceased persons of greater or less erectness of posture. The head-rest itself consists of the circular metallic loop H', into which the back of the head is introduced, and of the separated extremities h of said loop, by which the neckand upper portion ofthe shoulders are supported.

The rods It, by which a sheet can bc held over the corpse, are pivoted to the outer sides of the bars a by means of bolts and set-nuts r. This permits said rods to be made vertical, whatever the slope of the table, and also enables them to be turned down entirely beside the bars a, as shown in Fig. 3.

By means of hooks and eyes K K' thc sections A A' when flexed are held together, and the whole easily transported. Handles J, one on each section, permit the folded table to be carried in one hand. I also provide pins T, kept from loss by cords S, adapted to be inserted in holes T', made in the side'bars a. The object of these pins is to retain in place the arms of the corpse.

When making the table ready for trauspor tation, the rods R are turned down beside the bars a, the legs L are turned up between said bars, and the two frames A A' folded together, first. however, removing the pins T and head-rest H, and inclosing them within the space included by the frames and canvas c. vSaid space also serves as a receptacle for the sheet and other articles the undertaker may desire to carry.

What I claim as my invention, and for which I desire Letters Patent, is as follows, t0 Wit:

l.- The fraines A A', secured together by means of hinges l?, and canvas c, stretched laterally over said frames tightly, but having the flap c' over the joint between said frames for the purpose set forth, in combination with the legs L, pivoted to the side bars of said frames, substantially as and for the p uipose speciied.

2. Theframes A A', secured together by means of hinges P, and canvas c, stretched the iiap c', in combination with the legs L, the radially-corrugated disks M, having ears m, and the radially-corrugated disks N, having ears a, the bolts O and set-nuts O', whereby said legs are pivoted to said frames and fastened firmly'at any desired points of angular adjustment, as set forth.

3. The pivotally-united frames A A', canvas c, having flap c', and the board B, in combination with the legs L, and the headrest H, adapted to be vertically and longitudinally movable upon said board, substan tially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The pivotally-united frames A A', canvas c, having flap c', and the legs L, pivotally secured to said frames, in combination with the rods It, pivotedy to said frames by means of the bolts and nuts r, substantially as and for the purpose described. Y

5. The pivotally-united frames A A', canvas c, having flaps e', andthe slotted board B, in` combination with the legs L, pivotalA bolts O, head-rest H, having supporting-post E, adapted to be raised and lowered and lon gitudinally moved in said slot of the board B, the rods R, and bolts and set-nuts r, as and l for the purpose set forth.

6. The head and neck rest H, and post E, supporting the same, in combination with the block D, in an opening through which said post is vertically adjustable, and the slotted board B, beneath which said block is movable, as and for the purpose described.

7. In combination with the board B of a cooling-table, the slot b in said board, ways d, block D, movable in said ways, post E.

projecting` through said slot and vertically movable in said block, the plate f, notched bar F, repressible within a longitudinal groove in said post, and the headrest H, secured at the upper extremity of said post, for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of July, A. D. 1884.

` THOMAS H. DE MOTTE.

Witnesses:

W. H. FIsHER,

A. V. S. BAIRD. 

